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Immune response of mice and sheep to bluetongue virus inactivated by gamma irradiation

Journal Article · · Prog. Clin. Biol. Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5148747

Gamma irradiation is being tested as a means of inactivating bluetongue virus (BTV) for use in vaccines. Exposure of BTV 17 to various levels of irradiation revealed that a dose of approximately 0.6 megarad was required to reduce the virus titer by one log10, or 90%. To test the immunogenicity of irradiated BTV, mouse brain passaged virus and concentrated cell culture passaged virus were inactivated by 6 megarads of gamma irradiation, and vaccines were prepared by emulsifying the virus preparations in equal volumes of a modified incomplete Freund's adjuvant. These vaccines stimulated the production of neutralizing antibodies in mice and sheep, a cell mediated immune response in mice, and a protective immune response in sheep. The results suggest that gamma irradiation would be an effective means of inactivating BTV for the preparation of vaccines.

Research Organization:
Dept. of Agriculture, Greenport, NY
OSTI ID:
5148747
Journal Information:
Prog. Clin. Biol. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Prog. Clin. Biol. Res.; (United States); ISSN PCBRD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English